Improved apparatus foe preserving fruits, meats



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I 'luiteh listes stwt @fitta IMPROVED APPARATUS FOB PRESERVINGIRUITS, MEATS, duc.

digg tlgrhnle referrer tu in time ttters ntmt mit making part uf its time TO ALL WHOM IT MAY OONCERN:

Beit known that I, JOHN G. McMILLAN, of the city of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a certain new and useful' Apparatus for, and the Process of, Canning Fruits, Vegetables, Meats, the., in quantities, into exhausted atmospheric self-scaling cans; and the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification.

The figure represents the apparatus in a half section, cut through the centre of the globe condenser, showing the steam, air, and exhaust pipes, with their stop-cocks; also the can-receiver, and a lot of cans in a position Vfor exhausting lthey air and sealing. i

The object of my invention is to put upfruits, vegetables, meats, fish, &c., into cans, and exhaust the atmosphere, without heating the cans er the substance they contain, thereby preserving fruit and all other suhstances in a much more perfect manner, without impairing itsA flavor, or vsoftening it in the least, so that there isno tendency to decay, as there is when thesubstance lhas been heated sufiicient to exhaust the air.

` My invention consists in a receiver of sufficient strength and size to take ina/large number of cans, jars, or other vessels, in which the substances may be put for preservation, and securing the suine air-tight under, or in connection with, u. condenser of sufiicient magnitude to exhaust the greater portion of the atmosphere frmi the receiver and cans or jars placed therein; and the arrangement'of the pipes, gauges, and stop-cocks, and

i the other necessary fixtures to produce a vacuum, and instantly closeup all of the cans or jars in the recei\e1x Tolenable others to construct my apparatus for my improved process of canning up-'f`ruits, meats, 5cc., I will describe it more fully, referring to the'drawings, and tothe letters marked thereon.

Onl a base or platform, A, of'suitable size, I support, on posts B B, a tank or cistern, C C, in which .is- 'placeda strong iron globular condenser, DD, so that it can be entirely immersed in the water let into the tank.

The ltop of the condenser D is provided with a pipe,a, and stop-cock b, for the induction of water into the coudenser, and also a `vent pipe, d, and vstep-cock c, and a vacuum-gauge, E. The steam pipe F and throttle f connect the condenser D D with a steam-boiler, so that the spherical cavity of the condenser an be filled with steam as the water in the space is being drawn off through the pipe G and stop-cock ,rj underneath. In the centre'lof the globe condenser is a large pipe, II, which has a capaciou's throttle-valve or stop-cock, 7L, which connects the condenser D with the convex top or cover I of the can-receiver K, which, being placed centrally under" the cover, enables the ground or` elastic packed joint to be instantly fixed and held air-tight by exhausting a little air from the receiver K. In the top I of the eanreceiver is an air-tube, J, with its stopcock j, for the purpose of letting in the atmosphere` into the receiver K, te close the valves n n on the cans m m m instantly, and also relieve the receiver K from the cover I, so that'it can be slid from under, and the sealed cansremoved, and their' places supplied hythose unscaled, to have the atmospheric air exhausted from them, and be sealed up'instantly in the most perfcct'manncr by repeating the operation, as above described.

The process of canning fruits, meats, etc., by my'improved apparatus is as follows: The cans or vessels beingfilled are closed up, with the exception of a small vent .or hole in the top,4over which is placed a small piece of oiled silk, gummed' on one edge, to act as a valve over the vent. Any number of the jars or cans, from two to five hundred in number, (according to the capacity ofthe receiver and coudenscr,) are placed in the receiver K, when it is placed under the cover I, `and fastens by atmospheric pressure. When commencing the operation, the vglobe condenser D D may be filled with water, through the pipe a, te exclude all ctffthe atmosA phere, steam being let in through the pipe F; and, at the same time, the water imay be let and is forced out through the educ'tion pipe G. When the steam occupies the whole space in the condenser, the stop-cock g is closed, and also the steam is shut off at the throttle f. `The tank C C being filled with water, the steameondenses in the globe D D, leaving a most powerful vacuum. Then, by turning the stop-erick h, the air is exhausted from the receiver K, and all ofthe cans m m m. Then, by closing the pipe H, and opening the pipo J, the oiled-silk valves n n n instantly close the cans m m, and a-lso release the receiver K from close contact with the cover I,`sot'hat the cans maybe taken out, and the valves protected fop-transportation and commerce.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure' by Letters Patent, is l. Thearrangemo'nt Oflwater, steam, and vent pipes with a spherical condenser, when the said condenser is encased in a watcrtank,.for the purpose of alternately producing a vacuum, as herein specified.

2. I claim the cnn-receiver K, cover I, air-tube J, and connecting pipe H, as constructed, in combination with the condenser D, operating in the manner as and for the purposes herein set forth.

3. I claim the apparatus herein described, by which the process of exhausting the atmosphere from cans, jars, or other vessels containing fruits, vegetables, meats, or other substances, without heating the cans or contents, substantiaily as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name in the presence of- JOHN G. MCMILLAN.

Witnesses:

M. M. Moonn, J. B. WOODRUFF. 

